The Greeks at War: From Athens to Alexander (Essential Histories Specials) [Paperback]

Philip Souza (Author)

Book Description

Series: Essential Histories Specials | Publication Date: August 20, 2004

Inspiring generations of poets, novelists, scriptwriters and scholars, the rise and fall of the great Empires of the Classical world is an enthralling story of passion and conquest. The leaders, battles and military technologies that dominated the wars between Greece and Persia, and Alexander's conquests are all examined in detail in this book, and their historical significance is discussed. The appendix focuses on the modern treatment of Ancient Greece in film, including behind-the-scenes insights into the filming of battle scenes for Oliver Stone's epic movie, Alexander. This volume combines material previously published as Essential Histories 36, 27 and 26, with a new foreword by renowned historian and author Victor Davis Hanson, and new material on the Wars of the Successors.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr Philip de Souza FRHistS is the author of numerous articles and essays on Greek and Roman history, and Lecturer in Classics at University College Dublin. Waldemar Heckel is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Calgary. He has written numerous articles on the history of Alexander the Great. Victor Davis Hanson is a Professor of Classics at California State University, Fresno, a Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and is author of some 16 books on Greek and military history. He is currently a columnist for National Review Online. Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones is a lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at Exeter University. He works and publishes on Greek socio-cultural history, particularly the reception of antiquity in the arts and modern popular culture. He has recently worked as a historical advisor on Oliver Stone's movie "Alexander".

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (August 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841768561
• ISBN-13: 978-1841768564
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.7 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #981,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars learn alot in a little amount of time, March 21, 2007

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Leonidas the Spartan (texas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Greeks at War: From Athens to Alexander (Essential Histories Specials) (Paperback)

I guess the cliché "a picture is worth a thousand words" is over used. Therefore I will not demean myself by utilizing it. However this book uses phase-by-phase maps to show the progression of a battle. Therefore what might take an hour to understand 20 pages on Gaugamela takes 5 minutes looking at a map. This book also has drawing of dwelling of the various Greek cities and encompasses the culture of the time period. After all, the important thing about the Greeks is the lifestyle of freedom. And the preservation of that freedom is what made the Greco-Persian Wars so important. The book covers the Greco-Persian Wars, Peloponnesian War and Alexander. The only downside is that there are a few gaps that aren't covered. However for the average reader may not want to take the time to read about the minor wars. I have read quite a few books on the Greeks and I think that people like J.F.C. Fuller and Arrian do an excellent job describing Alexander, but this book makes an excellent compliment. Therefore, I recommend this book to amateur and experienced reader.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of EHS 'Greeks at War', December 21, 2009

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Ryan S. Mease "scott.godwin" (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Greeks at War: From Athens to Alexander (Essential Histories Specials) (Paperback)

This book presents an excellent introduction to the Persian, Peloponnesian, various post-Peloponnesian and Macedonian wars. Further, it is supplemented by occasional biopics of soldiers from each of these eras and cultural considerations as well. The writing is very easy to read, and the work is filled with full-collor photographs to supplement learning, as well as roughly a dozen maps showing the interplay of armies during historical battles. There are quotes from ancient historians, with a greater presence of direct quotations in the section on Alexander.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Succinct Introductions to the Greco-Persian and Peloponnesian Wars & Alexander the Great's Campaigns, January 14, 2011

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Yoda (Hadera, Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greeks at War: From Athens to Alexander (Essential Histories Specials) (Paperback)

This book is a compilation of 3 of Osprey Publishing Press previously published short 90 page short books in their "Essential Histories" series. Each of the 3 books makes up one chapter of this volume. The only addition to the 3 books is a 2 page introduction by the Classical Scholar Victor Hansen that, unfortunately, really does not add anything of substance.

Due to the short length of each of the books contained therein (about 90 pages of which half illustration), a potential reader should not expect to obtain an in-depth analysis or history of each of the topics but instead only a very succinct overview. In this the three chapters due succeed. In about 3-4 hours of reading the reader gets an idea regarding the historical contexts the wars occurred in. The powers discussed, leaders, armed forces are briefly discussed as well as how the wars drew themselves out and finally, what the consequences of the wars were (with respect to the last all 3 chapters are quite weak). Considering the length of the wars, for example the Peloponnesian War lasted 27 years, this is no small feat. In addition, the book is well illustrated with both strategic and tactical maps as well as photos and illustrations based on contemporary statues, coins, etc. showing troops and their armaments, leaders, etc.

All and all a fairly good introduction to these wars for those who have only about 4 hours to get up to speed.